Alexis Holmes anchors USA to victory in the mixed 4x400m at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
Day one of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 started under the unlikeliest of conditions with a storm. The day ended on a much more dramatic note – with a deluge of breath-taking performances that climaxed in a world record for the USA, a championship record for Ryan Crouser and a medal sweep for Ethiopia in the women’s 10,000m.
The last event of the evening, the mixed 4x400m final, was one for the books. The event made its debut at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, and was won by the US with a world record of 3:09.34. However, they were relegated to bronze by the Dominican Republic and the Netherlands last year in Oregon. Coming to Budapest, the US had one aim: to exert revenge and reclaim the title.
Running in the heats, the quartet of Ryan Willie, Rosey Effiong, Justin Robinson and Alexis Holmes signalled their intent for gold by storming to a world lead of 3:10.41, while the Dutch team clocked 3:12.12 to win their heat.
As expected, the final turned into a duel between those two teams. The US made a slight switch in their quartet ahead of the final, replacing Ryan Willie with Matthew Boling, and he handed over to anchor leg runner Holmes level with the Netherlands.
Alexis Holmes celebrates USA's mixed 4x400m world record at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
World 400m hurdles silver medallist Femke Bol soon overtook Holmes, but as the pair charged down the home straight, Holmes started to gain on Bol, who stumbled on the track just a few steps away from the finish line.
While the world indoor 400m record-holder tried to get back on her feet, Holmes – who ran a 48.82 split – crossed the line in a world record of 3:08.80. Great Britain took silver with a national record of 3:11.06 as the Czech Republic took bronze in a national record of 3:11.98.
Crouser delivers championship record
Ryan Crouser’s triumph in the men’s shot put final showcased the determination of the two-time Olympic champion who overcame illness and a world-class field to successfully defend his title.
The 30-year-old had bettered his own world record earlier this year with 23.56m, but a scan a few weeks before the World Championships revealed two blood clots in his lower leg. He received treatment and made a late decision to proceed with the World Championships. He may not have been at 100%, but he delivered in grand style when it mattered the most.
Ryan Crouser in the shot put at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
His opening throw of 22.63m instantly put him in the lead, then he broke the championship record with 22.98m in round two. Crouser saved his best for last, though, and ended his series with a stunning 23.51m – another championship record and just five centimetres off his world record.
Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri took a surprise silver with a PB of 22.34m, while two-time world champion Joe Kovacs took bronze with 22.12m. 2017 world champion Tom Walsh finished outside the medals with 22.05m.
Ethiopian sweep denies Hassan
Sifan Hassan had hoped it would be a night to remember, but what started as a dream ended in a nightmare as the Dutchwoman’s quest for treble glory suffered a major setback.
Having made history in Tokyo as the first woman to win medals across the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m at the same Olympics, the 2023 London Marathon winner hoped to replicate the feat in Budapest.
She started out her campaign in the 1500m heats earlier in the day and came back for the 10,000m final. As the race took off, the 2019 double world champion bided her time at the back of the pack, and waited for the sound of the bell to make her move.
Gudaf Tsegay on her way to the world 10,000m title as a fallen Sifan Hassan looks on in Budapest (© Getty Images)
Ethiopia’s world 5000m champion Gudaf Tsegay, defending champion Letesenbet Gidey and Ejgayehu Taye were all prominent in the lead pack as Hassan moved past them. Tsegay formed the strongest threat and drew level with Hassan in the home straight, but the Dutch runner lost her rhythm and fell while Tsegay sailed past to take gold in 31:27.18 and lead a 1-2-3 for Ethiopia.
Gidey set a season’s of 31:28.16 for silver, and Taye took bronze in 31:28.31. Hassan eventually got back up and jogged over the line in 11th place.
Martin emerges first gold medallist in Budapest
The men’s 20km race walk experienced a slight delay following a storm that gave a wet welcome to the athletes and fans alike.
Olympic silver medallist Koki Ikeda took charge in the early stages and built up a comfortable lead, holding that position up until 15km.
But Spain’s Alvaro Martin bided his time and put in a late surge just as Ikeda started to fade. The Spaniard, who finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, struck gold here in Budapest in a world-leading 1:17:32, just a few seconds outside the championship record.
Alvaro Martin wins the 20km race walk at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
In a race of incredible depth, Sweden’s Perseus Karlstrom and Brazil’s Caio Bonfim set national records of 1:17:39 and 1:17:47 respectively for silver and bronze.
“I was fourth at the last Olympics Games, which motivated me to work hard,” said Martin. “That is why this gold medal is the next step towards the next Olympic Games. I had an amazing race today, I didn’t expect to finish this fast, it is amazing. I cannot express all my feelings right now, it feels like a dream.”
Seville impresses in 100m heats
It was business as usual for the top contenders in the men’s 100m heats, but it was Jamaican youngster Oblique Seville who impressed most with a PB of 9.86 to top the standings heading into the semis.
Drawn in heat six, the 22-year-old – who narrowly missed out on a medal in Oregon – finished ahead of defending champion Fred Kerley (9.99).
Two-time world 200m champion Noah Lyles was the second fastest qualifier overall with 9.95, which he posted to win heat two ahead of Ferdinand Omanyala (9.97).
World Leader Zharnel Hughes, South African Akani Simbine and world U20 champion Letsile Tebogo were among the other heat winners.
Kipyegon, Hassan and Ingebrigtsen dominate 1500m heats
The big names in the women’s 1500m did just enough to advance from the heats into the semis. Hassan, running in heat one, was content to sit near the back of the pack until the final lap when she switched gears and kicked into the lead, winning in 4:02.92 from Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir.
Two-time world champion Faith Kipyegon kicked off her quest for gold by controlling her heat, crossing the line in 4:02.62. 20-year-old Nelly Chepchirchir topped the standings with an impressive 4:00.87 to dominate heat three ahead of USA’s Sinclaire Johnson and Birke Haylom.
Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen clocked the overall fastest time of 3:33.94 across the four heats in the men’s 1500m and was followed by Great Britain’s Josh Kerr in 3:34.00.
Kenya’s Abel Kipsang won his heat in 3:34.08 from USA’s Yared Nguse and Australia’s Adam Spencer. 2019 gold medallist Timothy Cheruiyot narrowly qualified for the next round as the last automatic qualifier.
In other track heats, world record-holder Lamecha Girma and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali both qualified with ease in the first round of the 3000m steeplechase.
Most of the big contenders also advanced from the qualifying of the men’s hammer, including Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki (78.04m), five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek (77.98m), and home favourite Bence Halasz (78.13m).
But the biggest surprise came from Canada’s Ethan Katzberg, who threw a national record of 81.18m to lead the qualifiers.
Sweden’s Olympic champion Daniel Stahl led the discus qualifiers with 66.25m. European champion Mykolas Alekna (66.04m) and defending world champion Kristjan Ceh (65.95m) also advanced safely.
Rising Jamaican talent Jaydon Hibbert, still just 18 years of age, was the standout performer in the qualifying rounds of the men’s triple jump. He bounded out to 17.70m with his second jump, which was 56cm farther than world and Olympic medallist Zhu Yaming. World indoor record-holder Hugues Fabrice Zango and world indoor champion Lázaro Martinez also advanced.
USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall was one of three women to surpass the automatic mark of 6.80m in the qualifying of the long jump; Marthe Koala (6.84m) and Ivana Vuleta (6.82m) were the other two.
World leader Ackelia Smith pulled out a 6.78m leap after two fouls to make it into the final. Larissa Iapichino, Jasmine Moore, Leticia Oro Melo and Ese Brume all qualified too. But 2019 world silver medallist Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk, USA’s Quanesha Burks and European indoor champion Jazmin Sawyers all missed out.
Yemi Olus-Galadima for World Athletics
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